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afflict

[uh-flikt]
verb (used with object)
  1. to distress with mental or bodily pain; trouble greatly or grievously: to be afflicted with arthritis.
  2. Obsolete.
    1. to overthrow; defeat.
    2. to humble.
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Origin of afflict

1350–1400; Middle English afflicten < Latin afflīctus distressed, past participle of afflīgere to cast down (af- af- + flīg- knock + -tus past participle suffix); replacing Middle English aflight < Middle French aflit < L. See inflict
Related formsaf·flict·ed·ness, nounaf·flict·er, nouno·ver·af·flict, verb (used with object)pre·af·flict, verb (used with object)self-af·flict·ing, adjectiveun·af·flict·ed, adjectiveun·af·flict·ed·ly, adverbun·af·flict·ed·ness, nounun·af·flict·ing, adjective
Can be confusedafflict infect inflict

Synonyms for afflict

1. vex, harass, torment, plague.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unafflicted

Historical Examples of unafflicted

  • Unafflicted by any such desire, Harky stirred nervously and wondered at himself.

    The Duck-footed Hound

    James Arthur Kjelgaard

  • Inattention of this nature is not the act of a Democrat unafflicted in mind.

  • This lasted about a fortnight, and made it hard for the unafflicted who had to do double guard duty.

  • When angular and unafflicted in a nativity, she is the promissory pledge of great success in life and continual good fortune.

    Moon Lore

    Timothy Harley

  • Phyllis had submitted eighteen samples, six of which were controls taken from healthy, unafflicted subjects.

    Mate in Two Moves

    Winston Marks

British Dictionary definitions for unafflicted

afflict

verb
  1. (tr) to cause suffering or unhappiness to; distress greatly
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Derived Formsafflictive, adjective

Word Origin for afflict

C14: from Latin afflictus, past participle of afflīgere to knock against, from flīgere to knock, to strike
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unafflicted

afflict

v.

late 14c., "to cast down," from Old French aflicter, from Latin afflictare "to damage, harass, torment," frequentative of affligere (past participle afflictus) "to dash down, overthrow," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + fligere (past participle flictus) "to strike," from PIE root *bhlig- "to strike" (cf. Greek phlibein "to press, crush," Czech blizna "scar," Welsh blif "catapult"). Transferred meaning of "trouble, distress," is first recorded 1530s. Related: Afflicted; afflicting.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper